National Sports

HALIFAX — A renewed emphasis on safety is the key to preserving high school rugby in Nova Scotia following a short-lived ban, a prominent coach in the province says.

TORONTO — Squeezed between do-or-die NBA playoff games between the Raptors and 76ers, Toronto FC hosts a high-flying Philadelphia team of its own Saturday when the Union visit BMO Field.

TORONTO — In the wild, unpredictable NBA Eastern Conference semifinal between the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers, the team that seems to take control of the series in one game ends up getting humbled in the next.

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors will play an advance-or-be-eliminated contest for the seventh time in franchise history on Sunday when they face the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinal at Scotiabank Arena.

Karen Paquin helped Canada hoist a trophy in Japan last month in her return from a long-term knee injury. Now the 31-year-old from Quebec City looks to do the same on home soil. Langford, B.C.

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators have signed Swedish defenceman Olle Alsing to a two-year, entry-level contract.

BEIJING — Canadian teams won seven of eight games on Friday at the Curling World Cup Grand Final, setting the country up nicely heading into the final two days of the competition.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The shots were finally falling for Damian Lillard.

Thursday's Games NHL Playoffs Conference Finals Boston 5 Carolina 2 (Bruins lead series 1-0) --- NBA Playoffs Second Round Philadelphia 112 Toronto 101 (Series tied 3-3) Portland 119 Denver 108 (Series tied 3-3) --- MLB American League Cleveland 5 Ch

PHILADELPHIA — The Raptors arrived in Philly on the heels of their biggest playoff victory in franchise history. A spot in the Eastern Conference finals was just 48 minutes away. It almost felt like a sure thing.